Locking top stop for separable fasteners



March 19, 1940 D. MARINSKY LOCKING TOP STOP FOR S EPARABLE FASTENERS Filed July 27, 1937 INVENTOR I 04w: M/I/P/A/SAY ATTORN Y I Patented Maia-l9, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOCKTNG TOP STOP FOR SEPARABLE FASTENERS Application July-27, 1937, Serial No. 155,864

6 Claims.

This invention relates to separable fasteners employing stringers with coupling links or scoops thereon adapted to be coupled and uncoupled, and employing a slider movable along the stringers to couple and uncouple the same, and further to the provision of means at one end of the stringers, forming stops, for limiting the movement of the slider at said end of the stringers, which means cooperate with the slider to retain the slider against movement longitudinally of the stringers when the stringers are subjected to lateral stresses or' strains which would tend to open-the fastener or separate said stringers; and the object of the invention is to provide. a locking top stop structure comprising end stop parts having projecting elementson one or two surfaces thereof adapted to enter substantially bayonet-like slots or recesses, formed on one or two walls of the slider, in such manner as to permit positive movement of the slider out of engagement with said end stops in the normal operation of the fastener, while at the same time looking the slider against movement longitudinally of the stringers when the ends of the stringers adjacent said stop are subjected to lateral stresses or strains, a further object being to provide a slider of theclass described which may be formed from a die cast, body to simplify and economize in the cost of producing said slider and further wherein the end stop blocks or members may also be in the form of die cast bodies; and with these and other objects in view the invention consists in a device of the char-- acter. described which is simple in construction, efiicient in use, and which is constructed as hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying draw- 1 ing forms a part, in which the separate parts reference characters in each of the views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one end portion of aseparable fastener showing the slider in locked position thereon, with part of the construction broken away and in section.

of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the slider shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive detached.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing-one end of one of the stringers which I employ.

Fig. 6 is a view-similar to- Fig. 3, showing a.

modification; and,

of my improvement are designated by suitable:

Fig.2 is a section substantially on the line 2 -2 Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the type of core members employed in forming the sliders.

In separable fasteners of the class described, there has been a tendency for the stringers to become detached or separated, byreason of lateral stresses or strains on the closed end portions of the stringers, especially when used upon a garment, where such closed end portions are more or less constantly subjected to the lateral stresses or strains tending to open the fasteners, means have been employed for securing or looking the slider in conjunction with the links to prevent this separation but such looking or latching means has not been foolproof, and it is the object of my invention to provide a means independent of any other means for securing the slider for definitely and positively retaining the slider against movement longitudinally of the stringers when said ends of the stringers are subjected tothe lateral stresses and strains mentioned.

To illustrate one method of carrying my invention into effect, I have shown in the accompanying drawing at l0 and H the closed end portions of two stringers of a separable fastener, on the adjacent beaded edges of which are attached suitable coupling links l2 and I3, which interlock in the usual manner, and which are adapted to be coupled and uncoupled by a slider l4 movable longitudinally of the stringers. Adjacent the end links of the stringers I0 and H are stop blocks or members l5-l5a, both of which are of similar construction, and each of which, in the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, is provided on one surface thereof, preferably the lower or inner surface with a projecting pin or latch element It. I

The slider It may be of a plain type or of the conventional lock slider, type commonly known in this art, the plain type being shown solely for the purpose of simplifying the illustration. The slider is provided with a top wall H, a bottom wall I8 united with the top wall through a sub-.

stantially V-shaped web l9 which divides the slider at .the wide end thereof into diverging channels Ill-20a, which unite at the other or contracted end of the slider. The side edges of tudinal line of the slider so that these recesses may be formed in die casting the slider by using core members 22 and 23 as diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 7 of the drawing, the core member 22 having rib portions 220. which form the recesses 2l-2|a. This enables the core members 22-23 to bepulled from the resulting casting as will be apparent.

The method of die casting sliders according to this diagrammatic illustration is taught in my prior application Serial Number 142,747, filed May 15, 1937, a division of an earlier application, Serial Number 129,319, filed March 4, 1937. For this reason no further detail description is herein deemed necessary with regard to the method.

After the slider has been cast, in the manner above indicated, holes are drilled, punched or otherwise formed in the wall l8, as indicated at 24-25, these holes being disposed at one side or, in other words, off centered with respect to the longitudinal center of the recesses or grooves 2I2|a so as to form, in conjunction with said recesses or grooves, substantially bayonet channels, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing, so that when the stringer ends are subjected to lateral stresses or strains in the direction'of the arrow :1: in Fig. 1, which are the kind of stresses or strains which are apt to take place, the pins or projections IE will be moved laterally in the bayonet channels, as shown in Fig. 1 and will operate to lock the slider l4 against movement longitudinally of the stringers. On the other hand, when the finger piece or pull, part of which is shown at 25 in Fig. 1 of the drawing, is grasped to pull the slider longitudinally of the stringers and away from the end stops l-I5a, the pins [6 will automatically ride outwardly through the bayonet channels, or the recesses or grooves 2l2la as will be apparent.

The top wall ll of the slider is provided with an elongated bar or loop 26 in connection with which the pull 25 is mounted as in other devices of this kind, it will be understood that any suitable means of coupling a'finger piece or pull with the Slider may be provided. At this time, it will also be apparent that while I prefer to form the slider from a die casting, either in the metallic or thermoplastic groups, the same may be made from sheet metal or any other desired material, and the same also applies to the formation of the end stops I5|5a. When thermoplastic materials, such as cellulose acetate, are used, it is preferred that all of the parts of the fastener, including the coupling links will be constructed of the same material. When the end stops |5l5a are composed of thermoplastic material, such as cellulose acetate, the same will be preferably adhered to the stringer tape by the use of acetone.

It will be apparent that my invention is not limited to any particular form of end stops l5-I5a, or the projections thereon, and this is also 'true of the forms and arrangements of the means provided in the slider for engaging said projections. It will also appear that other pins or projections IGa may be provided on the upper surface of the end stops l5|5a, which will enter corresponding recesses or grooves 2'|2'|a on the inner surface of the top wall I! of the slider, whichwill be identical in form to the recesses or grooves 2I-2la, with the exception that the apertures 2828a will not penetrate through the outer surface of the wall I! and will be formed in the operation of drilling the apertures 24-240.

The advantage of the structure shown in Fig. 6 will be primarily to increase the strength of the latching or locking means, and this type of construction may be used where the stringers are subjected to excessive strains or stresses. It will, of course, be understood that the recesses or grooves 27-2111 will be formed by simply duplicating the part 22a on the core 22.

In referring to my improved locking stop as the top stop, it will be apparent that this merely expresses certain uses of the fastener and, in some cases, such for example as the use of fasteners on leggings, the fastener is arranged in an inverted position and the stop would be in reality a bottom stop and in other possible uses of the invention, the fastener may be disposed horizontally and, in such cases, the stop would constitute simply an end stop, especially when the device is used in conjunction with luggage, coverings and the like, where the fastener is subjected to similar stresses or strains.

One of the other distinctive advantages of my improved locking end stop construction resides in the fact that the structure of the slider in no way interferes with or obstructs the conventional use of the slider and, at the same time, a strong and durable locking or latching means is provided which is substantially foolproof or positive in operation.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A slider for locking engagement with end stops on the stringers of separable fasteners, said slider comprising a channeled body having spaced walls, the channel of which is sub-divided at one wide end of said body by a connecting web spacing said walls of the slider, one wall of said slider having irregular substantially bayonet grooves arranged at opposite sides of said connecting web, said grooves opening outwardly through the wall of the slider at the wide end thereof, and the bayonet portions of said grooves being formed by apertures through one wall of the slider.

2. A slider for locking engagement with and stops on the stringers of separable fasteners, said slider comprising a channeled body having spaced walls, the channel of which is sub-divided at one wide end of said body by a connecting web spacing said walls of the slider, one wall of said slider having irregular substantially bayonet grooves arranged at opposite sides of said connecting web, said grooves opening outwardly through the wall of the slider at the wide end thereof the bayonet portions of said grooves being formed by apertures through one wall of the slider, similar grooves formed on the other opposed wall of said slider, the bayonet portions of said last named grooves being formed by recesses on the inner surface of said opposed wall, and said recesses being in substantial alinement with said apertures.

3. A slider of the class described comprising spaced and coupled wall members, said members having flanges at opposed sides thereof forming diverging channels at one wide end of said slider, which channels converge at the other narrow end of said slider; the inner surface of one wall of the slider at the wide end thereof having grooves opening through said end of the slider and extending into the channels'thereof, the inner ends of said grooves being extended laterally and outwardly toward the flanged sides of the slider wall,

the extended portions of said grooves forming shoulders substantially at right angles to said channels the inner surface of the other wall of said sliderbeing provided with similar grooves arranged in substantially. common alinement with said first named grooves, and said extended portions of said grooves being formed by apertures through one wall of said slider.

4. Ihe combination with. end stops at one end of stringers of separable fasteners and a slider having converging channels movable longitudinally of the stringers to couple and uncouple the same, of interengaging means on the end stops and slider automatically retaining the slider against movement on the stringers when the end portions of said stringers on which the end stops are arranged are subjected to lateral stress, said means comprising projecting members on said end stops and grooves on the inner surface of at least one wall of said converging channels, said grooves opening through the outer ends of said channels, said wall having apertures registering with the inner ends of said grooves, said -apertures communicating with and forming re-' cesses extending to one side of said grooves, and said recesses forming shoulders substantially at right angles to the said channels and adapted to receive said projecting members to retain the end stops against displacement from the slider when the stringers are subjected to lateral stress.

5. The combination with end stops at one end of stringers of separable fasteners and a slider having converging channels movable longitudinally of the stringers to couple and uncouple the same, of interengaging means on the end stops 35 and slider automatically retaining the slider against movement on the stringers when the end portions of said stringers on which the end stops are arranged are subjected to lateral stress, said means comprising projecting members on said end stops and grooves on the inner surface of at least one wall of said converging channels, said grooves opening through the outer ends'of said channels, said wall having apertures registering with the. inner ends of said grooves, said apertures communicating with and forming recesses extending to one side of said grooves, said recesses forming shoulders substantially at right angles to the said channels and adapted to receive said projecting members to retain the end stops against displacement from the slider when the subjected to lateral stress, and the grooves projecting beyond the stringers are portions of the shoulders of said recesses being susbtantially parallel to each other and to the longitudinal center line of the slider.

6. A slider of the class described comprising spaced wall members joined at one wide end thereof in a connecting web, said members having flanges at opposed sides thereof, forming in conjunction with said web diverging channels at said wide end of the slider, the inner surface of one wall of the slider at the wide end thereof having parallel grooves opening through said wide end of the slider and extending into the channels thereof, the inner ends of said grooves being extended laterally and outwardly toward the flanged sides of the slider @Iall, and the extended portions of said grooves forming shoulders substantially at right angles to said channels.

a DAVIS MARINSKY. 

